Natural disasters and conflicts: Horrifying human and economic tolls during 1998 and 1999 hover in background as ECOSOC takes up Humanitarian Affairs

Natural disasters claimed more than 50,000
lives and resulted in economic losses exceeding $90 billion during 1998;
while wars in Africa, Asia and Europe displaced millions more. This horrifying
toll will set the scene for the Economic and Social Council's debate, when
it begins its segment on humanitarian affairs on 13 July.
In his report on strengthening United
Nations humanitarian assistance to the Economic and Social Council, United
Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan highlights the 'enormous challenges'
that marked 1998. Natural disasters -- including floods, induced by the
El Niño phenomenon; the widespread destruction caused by Hurricanes Georges
and Mitch; the vast fires that ravaged Indonesia, Brazil and far-eastern
Russia -- wreaked three times more havoc than in 1997.

Twenty-two natural disasters were identified
in 1998, requiring the United Nations to come up with an initial response
of around $600,000. ' In view of experience gained over the years and the
repeated occurrence of natural disasters requiring a timely emergency response,
the Secretary-General has suggested, in the context of his proposed programme
budget for the biennium 2000-2001, an increase of $300,000, bringing the
total to $1,500,000 for the biennium', the report notes.

Regarding war-torn areas in 1999, the
report stresses that within two months, 1,200,000 people were uprooted
from their homes in Kosovo; in Angola, renewed fighting pushed the figure
of displaced people up to an estimated 1,600,000 since the beginning of
the year. The war between Ethiopia and Eritrea is believed to have brought
about the internal displacement of some 750,000 persons. Added to that
is another alarming figure: an estimated 300,000 child soldiers are serving
on the front-line in conflicts around the world. This practice is especially
prevalent in Sierra Leone and Uganda, says the report.

The report points out that ' the focus
of international media on Kosovo helped to ensure essential relief for
people fleeing the conflict', whereas the 'airlift of vital food to Angola
was threatened with disruption due to security reasons and the lack of
funds.'

Arguing that ' the tragedies in Angola
and Kosovo have raised serious issues for the international humanitarian
community', the report raised areas of concern, including:

-- access by humanitarian agencies to
victims of conflict;
-- impartiality and independence of humanitarian aid;
-- the definition of the lead agency and coordination functions in certain
types of complex crises; and -- the role of the military in support of
humanitarian operations.

The Secretary-General's report -- which
provides the themes for the Economic and Social Council's discussions on
humanitarian affairs from the afternoon of Tuesday, 13 July, through Thursday,
15 July -- reaffirms the importance of an 'effective and independent' International
Criminal Court. According to the report, a body enjoying the power to '
prosecute individuals suspected of genocide, crimes against humanity or
war crimes, could contribute to improving the secure environment for humanitarian
action, on the one hand, by deterring those who instigate genocide or ethnic
cleansing, and on the other, by granting redress to victims '.

The report further underlines the importance
of ad hoc agencies focusing on early humanitarian warning and preparedness,
streamlining their strategic planning and strengthening their field presence.
Effective coordination is particularly important for designing inter-agency
responses to the needs of the internally displaced, whether in providing
assistance or protection, the report states.

The report of the Secretary-General on
strengthening of the coordination of emergency humanitarian assistance
of the United Nations is available in print under symbol number A/54/154-
E/1999/94 and on Internet at the following address: http://www.un.org/esa/coordination/ecosoc/